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Album Details

• Artist: Marc Ribot
• Album: Spiritual Unity
• Label: PI
• Year of Release: 2005
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: patchen on 2005-08-02

Formed as a loving tribute and as a deep extension, Ribot's band Spiritual Unity pays homage to Albert Ayler literally and sonically. The Ayler covers bristle with the spiritual freedom of the originals, and, especially Ribot on guitar, the band takes each instrument and funnels it through Ayler's vision. The result is stunning and noisy, and, like Ayler, the search for something holy is evident in every note.
The added attraction to this is record is the first studio recording of bassist Henry Grimes in over thirty years. Thought to be long dead, he resurfaced a few years ago and apparently has lost none of his chops. Grimes played with Albert Ayler on some classic recordings in the 60's, and here adds both authority and love to the tracks. Drummer Chad Taylor sounds like four drummers, his pounding beats providing solid ground for Ribot and Grimes' explorations. Most of the tracks are familiar to Ayler addicts or free jazz heads: Truth is Marching In", "Spirits"; the best song is the 15 minute cover of "Bells" that moves slowly but surely into frightening territory; a motherlode of passion in one tune. Ribot's original "Invocations" sets the mood with a build-to-scream effort that virtually channels Ayler.

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